Chapter 1: Beckett
Well hello again! Welcome to the 2nd installment of the Dead Men Tell No Tales series! I haven't been with you for almost a month, so I apologize. Truthfully, I had planned to start this weeks ago, but that apparently didn't happen as planned. First reason: School got really really busy. You know, Science, Geometry...memorizing and reciting the epilogue from A Midsummer's Night Dream in front of my Drama class. Then I had to write a short story in English. And well...my short story turned into a 6 page story. Second Reason: I'm in a play! Auditions were last week and practice starts tomorrow. I'm sorry, but that might occupy my time for a while. Third Reason: I've been practicing driving a lot lately, so well...that's pretty self explanatory. Okay, enough of my rambling! Without further ado, Chapter 1!
I. Was. In. Hell. For the last five months, I have had to let Lord Cutler Beckett escort me to parties, galas, and garden parties. Anything that requires a social appearance from moi? He had to be there with me. Every time he looked at me, I could see the amused little smirk that played on his lips.
He knew he was torturing me, and he enjoyed it. He was tearing away my sanity, little by little. Every inch of me protested when he looked at me. It literally pained me not to kill him. This man had completely ruined my life. He had taken away my life, my chance with James, Aria. Not that I still wanted James. Did I? No, that was absurd. But then again, I hadn't expected him to pay me a little visit about three months ago:
Xx
I was sitting on the little balcony that was adjoined to my bedchambers, reading a book. One of the few that Ophelia had sneaked in for me. It had been a nice evening and when I closed my eyes I could almost smell salt in the air. It was almost like I was...
No. I wasn't in the Caribbean any longer. I was just outside of London. I closed my eyes once more, as a single tear slid down my cheek. Oh how I wished to be back in the Caribbean! I couldn't take being Lord Beckett's "Lady escort and possible fiancee" which I apparently was according to the snotty women I had been eavesdropping on while at a ball last week.
I grimaced at the thought. Fiancee? No. That was a revolting thought. The very thought of it made me gag and want to throw up. I started humming to myself to get my mind off that hellish thought, but they I realized what I was humming. Aria's lullaby. I sighed. Was there no reprieve from this horrible life?!
Suddenly, a large stone hurtled toward me and I dove for the ground, gasping as my corset was 'supposed' to restrict the movement, yet didn't, so it smarted horribly. I got up slowly, brushing off my mint colored gown, and peered over the edge of my balcony. What? What was someone doing here, hiding in the foliage? I sighed. This would be my first 'escape attempt' since arriving here, and doing it in a corset would not exactly be what you would call fun, but...hey. I'm not exactly one to turn down an escape, even if it was just for a short while.
I carefully stepped over the ledge of my balcony, before moving so that I was sitting on the ledge. I then, slowly moved so that I was hanging off said balcony, then I swung myself onto a nearby landing on the roof. The way the roof was built was strange, but I was thankful for it now. I then, lowered myself off of the roof and jumped, tucking into a ball, despite my corset, so my landing wouldn't be very painful.
I was wrong. It was painful, though mostly, that was the bloody damn corset's fault. I groaned before sitting up. There was a figure standing in the shadows. I stood, looking at the figure warily, "Well, come on, what do you want? I didn't just jump fifteen feet for nothing." Okay, I lied. I'm a pirate, so get over it. It was more like ten feet.
The figure moved out of the shadows and I gasped. "James," I whispered. James Norrington looked at me sadly,
"Alice." I frowned,
"James, you look like hell, what's wrong with you?" James grimaced,
"Thanks Alice. There's the kind heart that I fell in love with." I looked down. Until now, this was they first time that James had actually told me that he loved me. James crept closer to me and stuck a finger gently under my chin, forcing me to look him in the eyes, "I was joking Alice. I know that I look awful."
"What happened to you?" I whispered.
James laughed dryly, "Jack Sparrow did."
I frowned, "What?"
James looked at me sadly, "I know that when I last saw you, we weren't exactly on good terms." I looked down sadly, knowing her was correct. James continued, "I also know that you devised a plan to help Sparrow escape." I looked up at him suspiciously,
"Are you here to reprimand me? Or to arrest me?"
"Neither. I am simply here to tell you that I have resigned from my position as commodore and will not be returning to Port Royal." As he said this, he pulled off his freshly powdered wig to reveal his well-kept brown hair that was tied back was a black ribbon. I had always liked James' hair like that. I frowned sadly at him,
"Why are you resigning?" James sighed,
"I followed Sparrow through a hurricane-"
"What!?" I shrieked. "James! You could have been killed!" James looked down, humiliated,
"I might as well have been. I lost everything. My ship, my crew, my chance at Sparrow. What kind of commodore am I? No, Alice, I am useless." I forced him to look at me,
"James, you are not useless." James looked away from me again and I sighed. "James?"
No reply.
"James Norrington?"
No reply.
I sighed, exasperated and leaned next to his face, kissing him lightly on the lips. We parted and he finally looked at me, "Do you still love me?" he asked, confused.
"I don't know, James, I just don't like seeing you so down." The truth was, I really had no clue what compelled me to kiss James. It confused me just as much as it confused him. James nodded in understanding,
"I really just came to tell you goodbye."
"What?"
James smiled sadly, "Alice, I'm a disgrace. I have to disappear." I nodded sadly, understanding,
"I wish you luck James." James looked down at my gloved hands sadly,
"And you as well." With that, James Norrington disappeared back into the shadows.
I turned and started climbing back up to me balcony, so I could resume my reading.
Xx
I still never fully understood why he had come all the way to England, simply to bid me farewell. Then again, I still didn't know why I had kissed him either. A knock on the door caused me to rise from my chair. It was Ophelia. "Ah, dear Ophelia, how has your day treated you?" Ophelia nodded her hello,
"It was fine milady, but I have a feeling that you won't like what's coming." My small smiled dropped immediately,
"Ophelia, whatever do you mean?" Ophelia frowned and gestured to my closet. Uh oh.
Xx
I want a knife. Or a pistol. Or poison, poison would work well. But alas, I had none of these blessed items at the moment. At the moment, I was being introduced at a ball by a pompous old man wearing a ridiculous wig. As if we all didn't know that he was already bald!
"Lady Alice Elianore Ashwood, accompanied by Lord Cutler Beckett." Beckett snaked an arm around my waist. I grimaced but remembered what would happen if I didn't appear to be enjoying myself. I winced at the thought. I really did not want to be whipped tonight.
Beckett leaned in, "Alice," he whispered, "you look ravishing tonight." I frowned. I was wearing a crimson satin gown. My hair was curled and pulled back halfway was a scarlet ribbon that was tied in a delicate bow. This gown had been a gift from Beckett. I made a mental note to burn it when I returned home.
"You believe so? I find it rather unappealing," I stated briskly. I would not be friendly to Beckett and there was absolutely nothing that could ever make me change my mind. Beckett smiled, which unnerved me.
"Alice, you are a feisty young thing aren't you? But believe me dear, I will break you eventually. It won't take much. As I recall, the death of one child was enough to cause you to try to commit suicide."
I glared at him before my least favorite woman walked up to us. I had to quickly put on a 'happy' face. "Ah, Princess Victoria, how are you this evening?" Ugh. I hated her. She looked down at me disgusted,
"Fine, If you'll excuse me." Yeah you better run! Well, that's what I wanted to say. But I couldn't, I was at a ball. A damn, stupid, annoying, ball.
UGH! Look at what Beckett's doing to poor Alice! Okay, I want some input. Should I continue with the flashback stuff? It's up to you guys, but I want to hear it from you. Okay, to be clear, Princess Victoria is not THE Princess Victoria who married Prince Albert. I just made her up because I need her for...plans. (Laughs evilly.) I hope you guys like chapter 1, and I promise, Alice will be out of England soon! Do you guys want a Will/Elizabeth before the wedding chapter? Seriously, I'd love to hear from you guys!
~~Upisdowngirl~~